UN General Assembly

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session...
UNTV screen grab

Goodness is the best medicine for the world’s ills, says Holy See official

25 September 2021
UN Affairs

Humanity needs the “reserves of goodness present in human hearts” to confront the many challenges facing the world community, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, declared in his video address to the high-level General Debate of the UN General Assembly on Saturday.

President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez (on screens) of Cuba addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

A strong UN has key role in bringing peace, security and social justice, says Cuban President

23 September 2021
UN Affairs

Miguel Marion Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the President of Cuba, underlined the importance of multilateralism and the UN in his speech to the high-level General Debate at the General Assembly on Thursday, during which he condemned the foreign policy of the United States.

President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

‘Through the tears, solutions for a better society have sprung up’: Estonian President

22 September 2021
UN Affairs

The President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, lauded the world’s embrace of online services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, in her high-level General Debate speech at the 76th United Nations General Assembly session.

President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi of Iran addresses the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session...
UNTV screen grab

Sanctions are ‘US way of war’, Iranian President at UN

21 September 2021
UN Affairs

In his speech to the high-level General Debate at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi called for an end to United States sanctions against his country, describing them as a method of waging war.

Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the opening of the general debate of the UN General Assembly’s 76th session.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Restore trust and inspire hope, UN chief says in message to UNGA76

21 September 2021
UN Affairs

With humanity on the edge of an abyss, and moving in the wrong direction, the world must wake up, Secretary-General António Guterres said in his keynote address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

A coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University is said to be up to 90% effective.
University of Oxford/John Cairns

Scientists optimistic about COVID-19 vaccines for all

4 December 2020
Health

Scientists developing COVID-19 vaccines are optimistic that by the end of next year, all people everywhere will have access to safe and effective treatments against a disease which has disrupted the entire planet. 

Street vendors sell vegetables at a market in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
© UNICEF/NahomTesfaye

COVID-19: Right decisions now will secure a life of dignity for all

4 December 2020
Health

Critical decisions made now to address the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a life of dignity for all people, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Friday, addressing the second and final day of the General Assembly’s special session devoted to the crisis. 

Children wait outside a community toilet in a urban slum in Mumbai, India.
© UNICEF/Dhiraj Singh

COVID-19 recovery, focus of UN General Assembly special session

3 December 2020
Health

Nations united on Thursday for a special session of the UN General Assembly to survey the wreckage of the COVID-19 pandemic, reflect on the best response, and forge a path to better days ahead. 

UN General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande (left) and his Chef de Cabinet, Ambassador Mari Skåre, during the historic virtual joint briefing to Member States by the heads of four UN principal organs, held on 27 March 2020.
OPGA74

UN General Assembly: The world’s ‘town hall’ remains open during COVID-19 crisis

7 April 2020
UN Affairs

Although it seems the whole world is on lockdown as countries follow health guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19, the global “town hall” at UN Headquarters in New York remains open for business, albeit with a technical twist.